Farmers from this city are now benefiting from the Tuguegarao Dairy Farm Development Project of the Integrated Farmers Cooperative (IFC) in Namabbalan Norte, Tuguegarao City, a project under the National Economic Development Authority - Productivity Enhancement Program (NEDA-PEP).

During the monitoring visit of the NEDA, Dr. Pastor Tumaliuan, LGU-Tuguegarao City Project Officer, said that the milking machine was recently purchased and delivered to the dairy processing center which resulted to the 450 percent increase in the farmers’ milk production.

The farmer-beneficiaries could now avail of the services which include milk collection and processing, livestock (dairy buffalo) loan, and milk loan for the production of their own products such as milk candy, milk pastillas, and fresh and pasteurized milk.

The milk candy branded as Tuguegarao’s Best can now be found at local groceries in the City.

The fresh milk requirements of the manufacturers of milk candy in San Gabriel, Tuguegarao City, and Alcala and Lal-lo in Cagayan were also supplied by the Cooperative.

Dr. Tumaliuan also informed the monitoring team that as of March, the project is estimated to be 97.44 complete and a power house will also be constructed within the quarter.

He assured the support of the city government in the project especially in establishing its sustainability saying that dairy production is a good opportunity for the beneficiaries with the demand for milk thriving even in the next 20 years.

The NEDA-PEP provides funding support to short-gestating productivity enhancing projects to facilitate economic and social development at the national and local levels. (TCB/AAU-PIA 2)